Shloka 3.54.16
सीताहरणोत्तरं लङ्काप्रवेशः — Sita’s Abduction and Ravana’s Entry into Lanka
या च वक्ष्यति वैदेहीं वचनं किञ्चिदप्रियम्।।।।अज्ञानाद्यदि वा ज्ञानान्न तस्या जीवितं प्रियम्।
yā ca vakṣyati vaidehīṃ vacanaṃ kiñcid apriyam |
ajñānād yadi vā jñānān na tasyā jīvitaṃ priyam ||
“And whoever speaks to Vaidehī even a slightly harsh word—whether out of ignorance or knowingly—let them not hold their life dear (they must not be spared).”
Whoever utters any unpleasant words knowingly or unknowingly to Sita, princess of Videha is not worthy to survive (must be killed).
The verse shows a distortion of protection: true dharma protects without coercion, whereas adharma enforces compliance through fear and violence.
Rāvaṇa imposes strict rules on the demoness attendants, threatening death for any who distress Sītā verbally.
The implied virtue is compassionate speech (vāg-dharma); its importance is underscored by the extreme penalty threatened for violating it.